January 21, 2006

Look What You Made Me Do!

Hatched by Dafydd

This AP article, ostensibly about Karl Rove's speech, has a very peculiar characteristic... sort of a "what is wrong with this picture" scenario. See if you can spot it (I will refrain from my usual bad habit of bolding the important bits):

The admonition reflects growing concerns among senior Republicans that ethics scandals in the Republican-led Congress could hurt the party in November, even among staunch GOP voters who may begin to blame corruption for Congress' runaway spending habits....

The investigation of lobbyist Jack Abramoff threatens to ensnare at least a half dozen members of Congress of both parties and Bush administration officials. His ties to GOP congressional leaders and the White House pose a particular problem for Republicans.

I wish I could put a button here that would play the Final Jeopardy theme; perhaps you can envision it. Enhearing it, whatever... just imagine it! The answer is after the jump. Or if you're reading this on the archive page, it's just below!

Yeah, that's what I thought, too: if the scandal ensnares "at least half a dozen members of Congress of both parties," then why does it pose a "particular problem for Republicans?"

It's almost as if corruption is so endemic in the Democratic party that the voters are utterly blasé about it; they've already factored it in. But they would be shocked and angered to find similar levels of malfeasance among Republicans. Is that really the impression AP wants us to take away?

Or perhaps they mean us to absolve the Democrats because, childlike, they simply follow the lead of the more mature Republicans, so cannot be held responsible for their actions. This is like a kid sister, caught bloody-handed robbing the cookie jar with her older brother, pointing and saying "look what you made me do!"

But the whole article is replete (do you like that word?) with such odd pieces that don't quite fit. Like this one:

Rove, making a rare public address while under investigation in the CIA leak case, joined Republican Party chairman Ken Mehlman in warning GOP leaders against falling prey to the corrupting nature of power.

Has Patrick Fitzgerald called a press conference to announce "the noose is tightening" around Karl Rove? Has anyone specified Rove as a target? Yes, the case is still under investigation... but is there any evidence, other than liberal hatred, that the focus is Karl Rove? This strikes me as a perfect example of "it must be true because it would be so wonderful if it were true!" Here it comes again:

The special prosecutor's inquiry is still under way, leaving the fate of other senior White House officials, notably Rove, in doubt.

Why Rove more notably than anybody else? Does AP have some insight into the direction of Fitzgerald's investigation? Is someone in Fitzgerald's office illegally leaking secret information from the probe, a felony? If they have a "whistleblower," why doesn't AP crow about it?

This, by the way, is the real way that leftist media bias works. It's not that the MSM suddenly lapses into Kossack Talk (they save that for their columnists); it's just a subtle but inexporable pressure: the knowing wink; the slight smirk; the conclusion jumping, whispering, the significant glance... all pointing the same direction: well, you know how those Republicans are; there's so much I could tell you, if only I could shed this straightjacket of "objectivity." You'll just have to fill in the blanks; read between the lines, gentle reader....

But even after priming us to dismiss anything Rove says -- that well-known unindicted co-conspirator -- the writer (Ron Fournier) is unable to dim the power of Rove's words. Here he is explaining why the Republicans must run on the GWOT in the 2006 elections:

"Republicans have a post-9/11 view of the world. And Democrats have a pre-9/11 view of the world," Rove told Republican activists. "That doesn't make them unpatriotic, not at all. But it does make them wrong - deeply and profoundly and consistently wrong...."

"The United States faces a ruthless enemy - and we need a commander in chief and a Congress who understand the nature of the threat and the gravity that American finds itself in," Rove said. "President Bush and the Republican Party do. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for many Democrats."

He said some Democrats want to abandon Iraq too soon, which would cause enemies to "laugh at our failed resolve." Rove added: "To retreat before victory would be a reckless act - and this president and our party will not allow it. This is worthy of a public debate."

Direct. Blunt. Unanswerable. That is the essence of profundity.

De profundis ad astra! Or at least to continuing control of Congress. (I am still predicting that the Republicans actually gain at least one net seat in the Senate; at the moment, I am alone of all pundits in making such a prediction, but we'll see.)

Whoops, I seem to have lapsed into unlicensed clinical diagnosis again; that's my kid sister's job. Look what you made me do!

Hatched by Dafydd on this day, January 21, 2006, at the time of 12:54 AM

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» While You Were Visiting Little Nemo In Slumberland... from Big Lizards
I have been remissssssssss, and I humbly slither in the dust of contrition. It's been weeks since I last gave a recap of the scintillating, scaley susurrations of the days of the Bringer of Age and the Bringer of Light.... [Read More]

Tracked on January 23, 2006 3:30 AM

» Karl Rove At His Best from Flopping Aces
And with this line uttered by Karl Rove last night: Democrats are “deeply and profoundly and consistently wrong” on national security, Karl Rove said. We are officially out the gate and running full steam to the finish line: White House Dep... [Read More]

Tracked on February 4, 2006 1:16 PM

» Karl Rove At His Best from Flopping Aces
And with this line uttered by Karl Rove last night: Democrats are “deeply and profoundly and consistently wrong” on national security, Karl Rove said. We are officially out the gate and running full steam to the finish line: White House Dep... [Read More]

Tracked on February 4, 2006 1:16 PM

» Karl Rove At His Best from Flopping Aces
And with this line uttered by Karl Rove last night: Democrats are “deeply and profoundly and consistently wrong” on national security, Karl Rove said. We are officially out the gate and running full steam to the finish line: White House Dep... [Read More]

Tracked on February 4, 2006 1:16 PM

» Karl Rove At His Best from Flopping Aces
And with this line uttered by Karl Rove last night: Democrats are “deeply and profoundly and consistently wrong” on national security, Karl Rove said. We are officially out the gate and running full steam to the finish line: White House Dep... [Read More]

Tracked on February 4, 2006 1:16 PM

» Karl Rove At His Best from Flopping Aces
And with this line uttered by Karl Rove last night: Democrats are “deeply and profoundly and consistently wrong” on national security, Karl Rove said. We are officially out the gate and running full steam to the finish line: White House Dep... [Read More]

Tracked on February 4, 2006 1:16 PM

Comments

The following hissed in response by: KarmiCommunist

Sorry, humble me didn't mean to make you do it. Bill Nelson of Florida will lose his seat, so that's at least one.

The above hissed in response by: KarmiCommunist [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 22, 2006 6:27 AM

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